sportskeeda
BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD overcame Champion Hurdle winner State Man in an impressive Neville Hotels Hurdle, but punters expressed frustration over the poor tactics seen at the start.
Paul Townend appeared to be taken by surprise as Sam Ewing on the eventual winner and Danny Gilligan on the leading horse, King Of Kingsfield, surged ahead.
2
2
This left the rest of the six competitors, including State Man, trailing significantly from the outset.
THE SUN RACING MEMBERS ENCLOSURE
The best place to receive Templegate’s tips first – and at the most competitive prices – is by joining Sun Racing’s exceptional Members Enclosure.
Join today for just £1* and become part of racing’s winning team and receive…
- Four free racing tickets, four times a year – worth £300
- Templegate’s daily tips at the BEST prices before anyone else
- Exclusive access to Templegate’s daily NAP
- Tomorrow’s copy of The Favourite at 9pm today
- Exclusive insights from top trainer Ben Pauling
- VIP competitions from Racing Breaks each month
- New customer offer with Coral
Become a member today for just £1*
*For the first month then £3 per month thereafter.
18+ Ts and Cs apply. First month membership £1, then £3 per month unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For additional information, reach out to help@thesun.co.uk
And that gap was never bridged, with Gordon Elliott’s exceptional mare finishing with an astonishing 30-length victory over 66-1 outsider Winter Fog.
State Man, the 4-9 favorite, looked sluggish and failed to find his stride throughout the race.
Brighterdaysahead, who had previously bested State Man in the Morgiana, confirmed that performance with commanding authority after starting at 5-2.
The result was particularly disappointing for Patrick Mullins, who had shown confidence in his father’s horse.
Before the Grade 1 at Leopardstown, Patrick commented: “Brighterdaysahead is an incredible mare, even better than I thought, and a lot of credit goes to Gordon and Jack (Kennedy) for their unwavering support.”
“But I’m all in on State Man here.”
“Whatever it cost for Santa, whatever you had to spend on the holiday dinner, put it all on State Man.”
“With a past run under his belt at Leopardstown, I believe he’ll bounce back.”
Referring to the strategic maneuvers used by the Elliott team from the start, one punter remarked: “Brighterdaysahead is a phenomenal mare, but why did Mullins let them get such a head start?”
Legendary racing commentator Derek ‘Tommo’ Thompson announces retirement after 60-year career
Another observer noted: “Once they shot off 10-15 lengths ahead, the result seemed practically inevitable unless she fell.”
“State Man evidently isn’t the same horse he used to be, but did Townend genuinely believe Brighterdaysahead would slow down given her serious speed?”
“Poor tactics.”
Brighterdaysahead was slashed to as short as 7-2 from 20-1 for the Champion Hurdle, while the rejuvenated Constitution Hill became the 4-7 favorite.
However, much to the dismay of many, Elliott later stated that they intend to stick to their plan of running in the Mares Hurdle.
Initially, the betting market reacted chaotically as Paddy Power held odds of 11-4 following Elliott’s comments, but they were quickly forced to readjust to 7-4.
Brighterdaysahead may compete against Lossiemouth in the Mares, although Mullins hinted recently that they might pursue the Champion Hurdle and a rematch with Constitution Hill.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Sets time and monetary limits before betting
- Gambles only with money they can afford to lose
- Doesn’t chase their losses
- Avoids gambling when upset, angry, or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
